Method and apparatus for palatable prevention of acid reflux

Abstract

A method and applicators for preventing or reducing acid reflux (or “GERD”) by delivering a proper dose of vinegar directly to the back of the throat without exposing the taste buds, and immediately followed by a shot of water or other pleasant tasting chaser to wash it down. One applicator generally comprises a joined pair of sealed flexible pouches each sealed by a seal that may be burst open on the application of pressure to the pouches in order to dispense the product therein. The first pouch is filled with a dose of undiluted apple cider vinegar (approximately 5 to 10 cc) and the second pouch is filled with a liquid chaser, usually distilled water. Another applicator generally comprises a drinking vessel defined by two side-by-side receptacles, and pair of fixedly attached straws each entering a corresponding receptacle. The straw entering the chaser is oriented at a fixed angle greater than the straw entering the vinegar so that vinegar pours first followed by the chaser. In use, the vessel is lifted to the mouth with both straws disposed at the back of the throat, and the vessel is tilted so that the vinegar receptacle pours first, followed immediately by the chaser. This results in the vinegar pouring directly down the throat without exposing the taste buds, and being immediately followed by the chaser to wash it down.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application derives priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 903,949 for “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PALATABLE PREVENTION OF ACID REFLUX”; Filed: Feb. 28, 2007; Inventor: William A. Zicker.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a home remedy for preventing or reducing acid indigestion and especially acid reflux or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (“GERD”), a common condition in which the liquid content of the stomach backs up into the esophagus.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Approximately 5 to 7 percent of the population suffers from chronic acid reflux or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (“GERD”) which is marked, in addition to heartburn, by symptoms including coughing, hoarseness, voice change, chronic ear ache, chest pain, nausea and sinusitis. Under normal conditions stomach acid is prevented from entering the esophagus by a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter. If that v...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for preventing or reducing heartburn or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease by delivering a proper dose of pungent liquid directly to the back of the throat without exposing the taste buds or soft palate.

[0008]It is another object to provide a two-shot applicator for delivering a pre-measured or refillable dose of pungent liquid to the back of the throat immediately followed by a shot of water or other chaser to cleanse the palate and prevent the gag reflex.

[0010]In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention is a method and applicator embodiments for preventing or reducing acid reflux or GERD by delivering a proper dose of pungent (unpalatable) liquid directly to the back of the throat without exposing the taste buds, soft palate and olfactory sense, immediately followed by a shot of water or other pleasant tasting chaser to wash it down.

[0012]In use, the pouches are folded about their joined edge so as to align the pouches and apertures located thereon. The folded pouches are inserted into the mouth with the aperture end disposed at the back of the throat and squeezed. The applied pressure bursts the seals and dispenses the vinegar and chaser down the throat without exposing the taste buds. The vinegar and chaser may be mixed as they are dispensed or a mechanism may be employed to delay the discharge of the chaser to allow the vinegar dose to be taken in undiluted form. Delay of the chaser may be accomplished by varying the pressure required to burst each seal or by routing the chaser through a discharge conduit increasing the distance the liquid must travel before being discharged and thereby increasing the time to discharge.

Problems solved by technology

If that valve, for whatever reason, fails to operate properly, stomach acid may flow up the esophagus causing damage and the identified symptoms.

These efforts, particularly prescription drugs, can be expensive and vary in effectiveness from patient to patient.

However, the ingestion of vinegar is difficult for many, if not most, people as the liquid has a notoriously unpalatable taste and smell.

This has proven a disadvantage as the difficulty of drinking even a small quantity has prevented many from taking advantage of the health benefits.

Some people dilute the vinegar with water to make it more palatable although this is only marginally effective at increasing palatability and tends to reduce the effectiveness of the overall treatment.

While these tablets avoid the bad taste, they have been found to cause esophageal injury in some cases.

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